A conference in Nairobi highlighted that African markets are hindered by a lack of credit access, not just insufficient aid or training initiatives.

• Entrepreneurs desperately need access to credit to scale their businesses, rather than endless training programs.
• Small and medium enterprises face punitive taxes, high fees, and inaccessible credit, impeding their growth and global trade participation.
• The article argues for a shift from foreign-dependent export strategies to nurturing domestic demand and empowering local businesses as a citizenship demand for democratic governance.